cucurbit5uril

Cucurbit5uril is a macrocyclic host molecule belonging to the cucurbiturone family. These compounds are characterized by their cyclic structure composed of repeating glycoluril units linked by methylene bridges. Specifically, cucurbit5uril contains five such glycoluril units, forming a pumpkin-shaped cavity. The exterior of the molecule is relatively hydrophobic, while the interior cavity possesses a more polar character due to the carbonyl groups lining its walls. This unique structure allows cucurbiturils to act as molecular recognition agents, binding to a variety of guest molecules within their cavities through non-covalent interactions such as van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. The size and shape of the cavity are crucial for determining the selectivity of guest binding. Cucurbiturils are water-soluble and exhibit good chemical stability. They have found applications in supramolecular chemistry, drug delivery systems, sensing, and catalysis due to their ability to encapsulate and control the behavior of other molecules.